portrait for himself. Moreover, no one else but the
Emir returned the present.
In the Emir’s case, of course, I took back the things
without hesitation, expressing the hope that I might
be able to find something else to send in their stead
(which I did on reaching Bokhara), and asking also
the Khoja and his interpreter if there was anything
they would like me to send them from England, to
TH E COt)RT MOSQUE A T K IT A B .
which they replied, with Oriental politeness, that they
fish ed for nothing but to please me. I supposed I
must have created a favourable impression upon the
mind of the Khoja, for before parting he informed me
that he was constantly in the presence of the Emir,
and took his meals with him, so that, if I had any
favour to ask, he was in a position to help me.*
* Reminding one of Elijah’s words to the Shunamite, “ Wouldst
I had no wish to stay at Shahr, which is said to
have 90 mosques and 3 medresses. I secured a photograph
of the Court Mosque of Kitab, but it is an
insignificant building. Dr. Schuyler suggests a population
for Shahr of 20,000, and mentions 15,000 for
Kitab.* I am, however, exceedingly sceptical as to
the accuracy of Bokhariot numbers, especially when
they mount to four or five figures. I am persuaded
that some travellers have supplied us with statistics of
population in the khanate, which the Emir himself
could not give if his life depended on it. One of the
questions I asked at Kitab of my military informant
was the population of the khanate, but he could not
inform me. T he reader will therefore kindly bear this
in mind in reference also to my own figures, supplied
from information given by the natives.
The Bek sent early next morning to inquire for my
health. His present of the previous evening had
taken me by surprise, and having subsequently heard
that his son was at the Emir’s court, though not present
when I gave presents to the ministers, I sent to
the Bek a watch and chain for his son or any one else
to whom he chose to give -it. He threw a khalat over
thou be spoken for to the king? ” (2 Kings iv. 13); also of various
courtly officers who were in “ the king’ s presence” ; as David, who
“ sat with the king at meat’’ (1 Sam. xx. 5); “ five men of them that
were in the king’s presence,” taken by Nebuchadnezzar (2 Kings
xxv. 19); and “ seven men of them that saw the face of the king,”
taken by the Babylonian monarch (Jer. lii. 25); such as had ability
to stand in the king’ s palace, among whom was Daniel (i. 4); and,
again, the seven counsellors of Artaxerxes (Ezra vii. 14).
* Mr. Galkin, in 1865, estimated the.population of the bekship at
70,000 of both sexes. More recent authorities have put it at 50,000,
mostly Kanigas Uzbeks, noted for their valour. The same author
gives the names of 4 forts and 20 villages and settlements in Shahr-i-
sabz. Kitab lies on-a hill, at an altitude of 1,910 feet, but Shahr is in
a marshy plain, somewhat lower.